2. Activities
3. Dining
4. Restoring the fold
5. Stazzu di San Bertuli

Hiking trail to the San Bertuli sheepfold

Situated on the Via Romana trail, every summer the Bergerie San Bertuli d'Orezza once again becomes an essential stopover for many hikers. On the mountain paths between Monacia d'Orezza and Parata, with family or friends, you'll be warmly welcomed by Georges and Marie-Jeanne Grisanti over a spuntinu of cheese and charcuterie from their farm and their son's "U San Bertuli", used for cheese doughnuts. This Castagniccia landmark celebrates Saint Bartholomew's Day on August 24 with a procession to the medieval chapel of San Bertuli, also spelled San Bartoli or San Bartolu.

On this mountain ridge, with its calm barely broken by the sound of goat bells, you can see the sea on a clear day. An exceptional setting that regularly attracts the interest of the Arte group or France 3 Corse Via Stella channels, or even the late Jean-Pierre Pernaut's 1pm news on TF1 in January 2019.

Corsican cheese and charcuterie fritters - Farm products [ Videos ]

From June to August at San Bertuli, cheese production is at its peak. On the terrace, with a view as far as San Petrone, you can sit down to plates of cold meats, cheese fritters, bread, fig jam and refreshments. You can also buy goat's cheese on site.

In the past, Georges and Marie-Jeanne used to produce the cheese up there at the San Bertuli sheepfold, then come back down to the village to market it. Access to the two trails - maintained every year - gave them the idea of developing the site into a place of welcome and discovery, along with the medieval chapel of San Bertuli. Such was their success that their entire production was sold without them having to come down all season. In October, the month of chestnuts and new charcuterie, Marie-Jeanne and George opened their Ferme-Auberge Santa Cristi in the village of Casabianca.

Cheese sales in the village of Casabianca

Cheese sales continue throughout the rest of the year in the village of Casabianca, with brocciu in season. Just head down to Querceto, where George and Marie-Jeanne will be delighted to welcome you. During the festive season, for your Christmas or Easter meal, you can reserve a cabri or lamb by contacting Georges and Marie Jeanne a few weeks beforehand.

Breeders and producers, the Grisanti shepherds have been grazing their goats on this mountain for 38 years, with a pastoral tradition handed down from generation to generation.

The trail - San Bertuli d'Orezza

Two footpaths lead to the San Bartuli sheepfold, one starting from the village of Parata and the other from the church square in Monacia d'Orezza, which you can find on the map or by calculating the route from your starting point. Both access routes are equivalent, with a walk of around 1h15 between oak and chestnut trees. The medieval chapel of San Bertuli is perched on a mountain ridge at an altitude of 1074 metres, and is steeped in history dating back to the Middle Ages, as Georges and Marie-Jeanne Grisanti will tell you. It's also a place of worship, with the tradition of August 24, when pilgrims from all over the region gather to share their devotion.

Dates and bookings

In summer, from mid-June to mid-September (call ahead), you can visit San Bertuli every day without booking if you're with your family. If you're coming as part of a large group, it's best to book by phone rather than by e-mail, as the network is limited.

Address and Contacts : Stazzu di San Bertuli